As the university starts to build nicer residence halls, like Johnson A and Studebaker East, those living in LaFollette Complex feel like they are getting the short end of the stick.
Approximately 1,900 students live in LaFollette, which has no air conditioning, elevators that only go to the first and sixth floor, smoke detectors that go off at random and in an environment that is not up to date with modern day dorm expectations, residents said.
Freshman Max Lewis said compared to Johnson A, the features in LaFollette are "frustating" and they limit students on time and space.
“The furniture within the rooms and lobby areas appeared very bland and outdated and didn’t have that new gloss look," Lewis said. "With it being outdated and housing so many people, you would think they would update LaFollette."
He said he doesn't like having only one washer and dryer on the floor available for students and having a limited fitness room.
First opened in 1967, LaFollette is the largest residence hall complex on campus. The majority of the university's housing and dining facilities were constructed in the 1960s and the student body population has grown since then, which has contributed to the need for building updates.
There has been an ongoing renewal effort made by the school because of this. Johnson A just re-opened this year, and the renovated Studebaker East opened to students in 2013. The last reported date of renovations to LaFollette took place in 1998.
Many students complained about not having air conditioning, especially with the high temperatures at the start of the school year. Six residence halls out of the nine, plus Baker/Klipple in Noyer Complex, are currently equipped with air conditioning.
For freshman Emily Keller, living without air conditioning makes it hard to focus on things like her homework. She sometimes has to leave her dorm and study elsewhere, she said.
“Living without air conditioning feels unbearable at times," Keller said. "My roommate and I currently have six fans running in our room and it is still so hot and can feel like you're dying."
However, she does enjoy the size of the rooms. Compared to other residence halls, they have a lot of space, she said.
Alan Hargrave, director of Housing and Residence Life said in the past 20 years, they have been "aggressively" renovating residence halls for students.
"All residence hall and dining facilities are funded through the housing and dining reserve funds," Hargrave said. "State appropriations are not available for this purpose. Therefore, we have to utilize savings in order to move forward in renovations.”
Although LaFollette may not be in peak physical condition, residents still share a strong sense of community within the residence hall, said freshman Lucy Cottrell.
“I love the connections I have built with the girls on my floor," Cottrell said. "We all leave our doors open to each other and aren’t antisocial in any sense. Everyone is really nice and wants to be friends.”
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